RAWANG: Former private investigator P Balasubramaniam’s family is still in shock over his sudden death, especially since he passed away just hours after undergoing a medical check-up at a private hospital.

Balasubramaniam, 53, better known as PI Bala, had suffered a minor heart attack on March 1 and was admitted to the hospital. He was told that he had three blocked arteries in his heart.

Doctors advised him to undergo a bypass in three weeks’ time, but on Friday he complained of breathing difficulties at about 1.30pm after having lunch and was rushed to a clinic close to his home in Rawang. He was pronounced dead at the clinic before the ambulance arrived.

“Bala’s wife Santamil Selvi and three children are still in shock by his sudden death,” said Bala’s sister-in-law A Vimala, 43, when met at Bala’s house in Taman Pelangi in Rawang yesterday.

Over 100 people, including several Opposition politicians, such as PKR president Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Ismail, Subang MP R Sivarasa and Kelana Jaya MP Loh Gwo Burne, came to pay their respects.

A post-mortem conducted at the Sungai Buloh Hospital on Friday night gave the preliminary cause of death as heart attack. The final post-mortem result is expected to be released in two weeks.

His remains were cremated at the Cheras crematorium at 2:30pm yesterday.